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New Year's Eve doesn't have to be the same old formula of drinks, fireworks and late nights.

Photo by Jessica Thames from Pexels.com

With New Year’s Eve less than 48 hours away, some of the world’s biggest cities are also gearing up for the biggest ‘party’ of the year.

The festivities in New York City attract over one million visitors (to Times Square alone), more than one million line the banks of Sydney Harbour, and in London a sell-out event with more than 100,000 gathering to watch fireworks against the backdrop of the River Thames.

Sydney hosts one of the world's most famous New Year fireworks displays, attracting over one million... [+] visitors to the harborside each year.

Photo by Belle Co from Pexels.com

If you’re tired of the same old routine every new year (drinks, fireworks and late nights), take some inspiration from these cultures. Celebrations for the ‘new year’ vary by traditions and rituals performed, all the way through to the date itself.

These four cultures’ rituals could give you a new perspective to create more prosperity in your life.

Red symbolizes good fortune and joy and can be seen everywhere during Chinese New Year celebrations.

Photo by Andrew Haimerl from Pexels.com

This is the most important holiday in China with the official celebrations usually occurring in February. The date itself centers on the turn of the season and coming of spring, symbolizing a time for planting, harvests, new beginnings, and fresh starts. Rituals include many offerings of abundance, such as burning fake money in honor of deceased loved ones to bring good luck in the afterlife or handing red envelopes (with real money!) to children as a symbol of passing on good fortune. And, the day before is dedicated entirely to cleaning. In order to “sweep the bad luck away and make room for the good.”

Japanese New Year (Oshogatsu)

Again, this is the most important holiday of the year. Considered a fresh new start and as such all ‘work’ from the year must be finalized. It’s a time to switch off and bonenkai parties with colleagues are a way to “leave the old year's worries and troubles behind.”

Many Japanese people will start the new year watching the first sunrise, followed by visits to... [+] temples and shrines to make their wishes.

Photo by Belle Co from Pexels.com

Many of the traditions symbolize releasing stress and anger and creating joy and longevity in life. In preparation, everything should be cleaned, so that no work is done on 1 January itself. Straw ropes strung with strips of white paper are hung across parking lots and shopping areas to “purify the entrance and invite new and fresh life into the home and workplace”. And, many will view the first sunrise of the year to bring it in, followed by visits to shrines and temples to leave wishes.

Persian New Year (Nowruz)

The overarching theme of this celebration is renewal. Held at the start of spring and considered to be the new year and a celebration of new life. The traditions surrounding this holiday date back millennia.

Including dried fruits in your new year display is said to bring love in Persian New Year... [+] traditions.

Photo by Rawpixel.com

Rituals include plenty of deep cleaning of homes, removal of clutter, and setting up a display of seven items to symbolize hope for the new year. These items range from seedlings (for rebirth and renewal) to dried fruits (for love), and apples (for beauty and health), and a sweet pudding (for wealth and fertility). There’s even a celebration that involves jumping over public bonfires,

The idea, in keeping with Nowruz’s overarching theme of renewal, is to cleanse away the past year so you can start the new one refreshed and renewed.

Brazilian New Year (Réveillon)

In Brazil and many other Latin American nations, the new year is highly celebrated. Wearing white on New Year’s Eve symbolizes bringing in a fresh new start, peace, and prosperity. And, while many will flock to the ‘party’ capitals like Rio de Janeiro, at homes the core traditions remain.

While Brazil may be well known for its big New Year Party in Rio, there are many other traditions... [+] that still hold fast. Like eating seven pomegranate seeds at midnight to bring in good luck.

Photo by Pixabay.com

Locals will make offerings to the Ocean Goddess by throwing white flowers and sending candles out to the ocean to make your wish for the new year. While it is said that chewing seven pomegranate seeds at the stroke of midnight, or making seven jumps over seven waves, will bring in good luck. Preserving the seeds in your wallet “will ensure that it will be full of money in the New Year”. Even what you eat on the day will set the course for the year ahead, with lentils said to bring in good luck too.

All cultures' traditions center on celebrating a fresh new start.

Photo by Rawpixels.com

There’s a common thread across all cultural traditions – the new year represents an opportunity to declutter, to make a fresh start, and to celebrate incoming good fortune.

How you choose to celebrate your new year is entirely up to you. It’s never too late to create your own tradition, one that brings you a sense of renewal in personal health and happiness.

I teach people how to break up with 'busy' for good and still achieve all that they want. Having been burnt out and stuck myself in a great job I didn't feel great in, I…

I teach people how to break up with 'busy' for good and still achieve all that they want. Having been burnt out and stuck myself in a great job I didn't feel great in, I needed more than the next tick-box to get me going again. I retrained as a Life Coach and certified Meta Dynamics™ Practitioner (which combines NLP and positive psychology techniques). Now I get lit up by understanding human behavior, positive psychology, mindset, neuroscience, yoga, meditation, Ayurveda and body-mind connection. I write about what you can do to take care of yourself as much as you do your job (and others), meaning you get to live less on autopilot and more on purpose.